Is it just me, or does summer seem to go by faster and faster every year?! Between family events, kids’ activities, holidays and more, it feels like this summer was over in a flash. Even though it’s definitely still hot outside, Labor Day weekend feels like the “last hurrah” for summer.
My family doesn’t have big plans for the holiday weekend. We’ll probably hang out in the backyard, grill some burgers, and maybe go swimming at the pool or the beach. In years past, we’ve taken trips around Labor Day to Orlando and Michigan, and of course the past few years we’ve stayed close to home with socially-distanced activities.
Do you have plans for the holiday weekend? Are you traveling or staying close to home? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
What is Labor Day all about?
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 5, this year. The federal holiday is observed on the first Monday of September each year, and its purpose is to celebrate the achievements of American workers. According to history.com, Labor Day originated in the late 1800s at the height of the Industrial Revolution. The average American worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, often in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Labor unions became more prominent and more vocal, and they organized strikes and rallies to protest.
The first Labor Day “parade” occurred Sept. 5, 1882, when 10,000 workers in New York City marched from City Hall to Union Square. Twelve years later, Congress passed an act recognizing Labor Day as a legal holiday, and President Grover Cleveland signed it into law June 28, 1894.
Travel and Labor Day Weekend Plans
The Vacationer, a travel news website, estimates that 137 million Americans will travel over Labor Day weekend this year. According to their Labor Day survey, 53% of respondents said they plan to travel this weekend. More than a third said they would travel by car (35%), with another 14% indicating they would travel by plane.
As of Thursday, Aug. 18, AAA reports that the average price of a regular gallon of gas was $3.931. Even though gas prices have dropped a little recently, more than half of the survey respondents said that gas prices would affect their travel plans.
Interestingly, American adults in the middle Atlantic region– which include New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania– were most likely to have their travel plans affected by high gas prices. Travelers in states like Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and the Dakotas were less likely to report that gas prices would impact their Labor Day weekend plans.
Taking Time Away from Work
Hopefully, some of the people who plan to travel over the holiday weekend are also using vacation days and taking more time for their trips! Wallethub reported that in 2020, 57% of Americans left an average of 4.6 vacation days unused. And, 57% of Americans reported in 2021 that it had been more than a year since their last vacation of any kind. Perhaps not surprising because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but even if you don’t travel anywhere, it’s important to take time off.
Panel Member Reminders
As we get ready for the holiday weekend, remember to scan the purchases you make for weekend activities! Whether you’re grocery shopping for a gathering or shopping for deals at the holiday sales, your shopping information makes a difference.
Each week you scan purchases and submit information to NCP, you earn reward points that can be redeemed for gift cards and a wide variety of merchandise. You’ll also receive additional rewards and incentives for taking part in surveys and special programs. The more you participate the more you earn!
Not currently a panel member and interested in joining? Learn more and sign up here.
And finally, NCP will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, for the Labor Day holiday. Our Support Center will be open regular business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 6. We hope you have a great weekend!
Regards,
Taylor
No plans just stay home and relax
I’m not looking for anything to do but I’m definitely at home
We don’t have any specific set of plans for Labor Day Weekend. My daughter will be busy with her hubby and my son has plan with his wife. As for me I’ll be enjoying some good old fashion solitude! 😁. My plan as always will be cleaning a little, tending to my 3 kitties and after all that “laboring” , I’ll kick of my slippers and catch up with my favorite shows on my DVR!
I ended up catching the flu bug so I’m not celebrating this year
I have not been to a Labor Day picnic in five years. My kids live far away and I’m not worth the gas to come see I guess. So I just made hot dogs on the grill for me, my boyfriend and his daughter. We didn’t eat together. My boyfriend was passed out taking a nap by the time I got the food ready. His daughter came in and grabbed some food then went upstairs to her apartment. I made hot dogs and macaroni salad, it turned out pretty good.
Up until Covid I spent Labor Day at a Union Rally. I celebrate the hard working people of this country and their contributions to the work force.
Summer does go by too fast.
We used to travel Labor Day weekend, but the last time we did, it was for a wedding when my Uncle Robbie married his now wife Kathy. For those unfamiliar with Washington-Idaho area…. It usually takes about 7 hours to go from Tacoma, Washington to Mountain Home, Idaho. Part of the trip is through Snoquamie Pass that ends at CleEllum Washington. Usually it takes 45 min to get from CleEllum to Ellensburg in central Washington on I-90. Well on the way to Idaho it was easy breezy with no traffic jams. My cousin and I had a wonderful time singing and laughing as we enjoyed the old school mix she put together, even with the first gangster rap from 7 th grade…. It was a blast…
The nightmare began on the way home from the wedding. No EXAGGERATION FOLKS… When we hit I-90… It took 3 hours to go what usually took 45 min. Everybody in the world it seemed was attempting to get back to the Tacoma Seattle area. The traffic was stopped. The lines were miles long with people parked on the side of the freeways, taking naps, having picnics…. While waiting to get to the rest areas and bathrooms. I had to pee worse than ever, but couldn’t possibly get off the freeway to join the 20 mile long line. So we just stayed put driving inch by inch towards Snoquamie Pass that would get us home.
That experience taught us that Labor Day could be enjoyed staying home, or even enjoying local beaches for swimming and BBQ. Or even a nice fishing day.
With the gas prices, that travelling money, could be spent on fun Labor Day weekend times at home.
This Weekend we are staying in. We are having GAME NIGHT MARATHON. I N HOUSE SCAVENGER HUNTS BY DAY. winding down to KNOW THE LINE MOVIE TIME. We are taking advantage of everyone being home an celebrating Birthday
Aaahhhh,! I plan to have some quality time by myself. Why? Because my place will remain clean. No one to clean up after insensitive family members won’t wash a utensil.
So the extent of my laboring will be as foliows:
Do a pedicure
Facial,
Put away the laundry
Brush my 3 kitties, then, vacuum the mess
Take a shower, and finally,
Catch up with my favorite show on my DVR!
I’m laboring and then reaping my rewards!
HAPPY LABOR DAY TO ALL!